The FiveMinute Linguistampampampnbspprovides a lively readerfriendly introduction to the subject of language suitable for the general reader and beginning students. The book offers brief essays on more than 60 intriguing questions such as ampampampldquoWhatampampamprsquos the difference between a language and a dialectampampamprdquo Can animals understand usampampamprdquo ampampampldquoWhat causes foreign accentsampampamprdquo and ampampampldquoHow is language used on social mediaampampamprdquo These are conveniently organized into 12 topical areas that include What is Linguistics Language and Thought Language and Society and Language and Technology among others.Each essay is written by a leading authority in the specialization who offers succinct insightful answers to questions that most of us have wondered about with followup references to more indepth reading on each question. The third edition adds new topics now at the forefront of linguistics and updates others serving as an unrivaled introduction to the mysteries and intrigue of language.